Art of abrading.



PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

A. H. RADELL. ART OF ABRADING.

APPLICATION iILED SEPT.12.1904.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'HMHHE 1/7 PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

A. H. RADELL.

ART OF ABRADING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Inward 0% No. 844,046. PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

A. H. RADELL. ART OF ABRADING.

APPLICATION FILED STE-P112, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Unrirnn srarnsrnrn-r ANTHONY I-I. RADELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO BENJAMIN M.

FREES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ART OF ABRADHJG.v

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed September 12, 1904. Serial No. 224,207.

full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to the art of abrading,

and has particular reference to the art of -abrading by the projectionof abrasive material by a steam-mjector.

In the practice of some branches of this artfor instance, in thesharpening of files or other tools by abrasion-it is important to keepthe tool from becoming deleteriously heated, to insure the projection ofthe abrasive substance at a high velocity, to secure proper action ofthe abrasive material on the tool, and to provide a satisfactoryabrasive composltion.

In the practice of the art it has been customary to provide against theheating of the tool by deriving the abrasive material in a moistcondition from the bottom of a watercontaining casing, the moistabrasive material having less heating efl'ect than dry material.Further, in accordance with the teachings of my prior patent, No.673,576, dated September 10, 1901, air is mixed with the abrasivematerial for supply to the injector for the purpose, among others, ofmaintain ing a high velocity of projection of the abrasive material, asit is found in practice that when the injector acts to draw up theunadulterated abrasive material the weight of the material acted upon bytheinjector is so greatas to render the action of the machine sluggishand the velocity of projection of the concentrated stream of materialunduly slow. Under the teachings of my prior patent aforesaid, however,the air is taken directly from the general atmosphere and passes inrelatively cool condition, with the relatively cool abrasive material,into the vacuum-chamber of the injector to mix with the injected steamin the tip of the injector. I v

The steam em loyed in machines of this type being usually under highpressure and having a high degree of superheat condenses readily uponmeeting the relatively cool body of abrasive material and air. Suchcondensation of the steam, as will be well understood, materiallyreduces the velocity of projection of the abrasive material and mixeswith the abrasive material, before it reaches the surface to be abraded,an undue quantity of Water. This excess of free water seems to act as acushion for the abrasive granules and prevents proper action or theabrasive material upon the surface to be abraded, thereby decreasing theefficiency of the machine. I have found that these disadvantages may beovercome by mixing with the abrasive materialsnpplied to the injector abody of highly-heated gaseous material such as air, steam, or steam andair-heated to or in excess of the boiling-point of water. The admixtureof the volume of highly-heated gaseous material with the abraivematerial to be fed to the injector insure a ll the advantages derived bythe use of air. ai. atmos heric temperature in the machine of my ormerpatent, and in addition by heating to a relatively high degree theentire body of matter supplied to the vacuum-chamber of the injectorprevents undue condensation of steam at the nozzle of the injector andobviates or minimizes the disadvantages of reduced velocity ofprojection and efficiency of action of the abrasive material inherent inmachines of the old type.

The aim oi my invention may be accomplishedby-theuse of apparatus ofdiversified form and differing widely in construction, and I havetherefore in the drawings suggestively illustrated various styles ofmachines such asmight be employed in the prac tice of the art ofabrading in accordance with my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side View, partly in elevation andpartly in section, of an advantageous form of apparatus for the practiceof my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are similar views of fragments ofvarious modified forms of apparatus likewise adapt ed for the practice'of my invention.

Referring now to said apparatus, it will be seen that there is providedin genera a casing 10 of any suitable form having a bottom structure 11,suitably shaped to cause a body 12 of granular material depositedtherein to seek a relatively small area which constitutes the source ofsupply of such material. In

each construction shown the source of supply is a well communicatingwith the bottom 1 1.

The bottom 11 is of such construction as to afford asuitable receptaclefor a body of liquid 14, maintained at a predetermined level by theprovision of a suitable overflow-pipe 15.

Above the waterbody 14 is left a space 16, which I will term'an"air-space, substantially inclosed save at a steam-outlet 17 at the rearend of the casing 10, and an aperture 18 at the front end for theinsertion of a tool.

Projecting into the chamber 16 below the aperture 18 is a steam-injector19, having a vacuum-chamber 20, through which extends a steam-nozzle 21,communicating with a steam-supply pipe 22, constituting what I will termthe .source of steam-supply. With the vacuum-chamber 20 of the injector,preferably adjacent the rear end thereof, communicates amaterial-conduit 23 of suitable construction, the opposite end of whichcommunicates with the well 13 or other source of material-supply.

While for convenience I have shown the parts thus far described aspractically identical in all of the views, I do not desire to beunderstood as limiting myself to the specific construction shown, as theparts thus far described are old in the art and any other suit ablestructure providing a steam-injector and a source of material-supplyopera'tively associated with the vacuum-chamber thereof might beemployed.

For the practice of my present invention, however, means should beprovided for heating to a high degree the material acted on by theinjector, as by admitting a supply of a highly-heated gaseous matter tothe vacuumchamber of the injector with the abrasive material.

In practice I prefer that the gaseous matter supplied to the injectorwith the abrasive malerial be highly-heated air or a mixture of air andsteam heated to or in excess of the boiling-point of water, (thoughsteam alone might be used,) and I prefer that the highlyheated gaseousmatter be mixed with the abrasive material to be supplied to theinjector at substantially the point where it leaves the source ofmaterial-supply.

In the specific construction shown in Fig. 1, 24 indicates a conduit forsupplying gaseous material, whieh'for brevity I will term theair-conduit, leading from the chamber 16 to a head 25 in the well 13,arranged to confront the open end of the material-con- (luit 23. V

26 indicates a steam-nozzle arranged with: in the head 25 to act as aninjector and connected, as by a suitable valved pipe 27, with the sourceof steam-supply 22.

During the operation of the machine constant ejection of superheatedsteam into the chamber 16 heats the air-body therein to a high degree,so that air and steam derived from said chamber through the air-conduit24 is heated to orin excess of the boiling point of water. The action ofthe injector 19 serves, as will bewell understood, to we ate a vacuumtendency in the vacuumchamber 20, and .so acts to draw a mixture ofabrasive material and the heated gaseous matter supplied by conduit 24from the lower portion of well 13 into the vacuum-chamber of theinjector. The steam-jet 26 assists in this operation by acting as aninjector to draw heated gaseous matter through the conduit 24 andproject it, together with the abrasive material, into 'thematerial-conduit 23 to relieve the drag upon the injector 19. The stean-jet 26 also serves to impart heat to the material in transit to theinjector 19 and further insures that the material fed to the injector 19shall be in a highly-heated condition, tending to minimize thecondensation of the injected steam at the nozzle of the injector.

In practice I have found that the best resultsare attained by the use'ofan abrasive material consisting of mixed ground quartz and carborundumin the proportion of about three (3,) parts of quartz to one partof carborundum; but I do not desireto be under stood as limiting myself to theuse of such abrasive material.

In Fig. 2 the material-conduit'23Icommunicates with theconduit portion23" of a head 25*, with which also communicates the air-conduit 24,leading fromthe chamber 16 above the water-line within the casing.Apertures 25" are provided in the head 25 intermediate the point ofconnection of the conduit 24 thereto and the end of conduitsection 23.This form of device dependsentirely upon the action ofthe injector 19,and the gaseous material supplied is solely derived from the chamber 16,said gaseous material comprising highly-heated air and steam. I havefound in practice, however, that this form of device is verypracticaLand quite efficient.

In Fig. ,3 Ihave showna form of apparatus in which the air-conduit 24and material conduit 23 communicate witha head 25?, substantially likethat last described, but wherein the air-conduit 24 leads to the'general atmosphere, heat and steam being suplied tothe air in saidconduit by a steamet 26*, arranged in the conduit 24 and connected by asuitable pipe 2 7 with the source of steam-supply 22.

In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 4 a somewhat similar arrangementis provided, the air-pipe 24 extending to the general atmosphere, butcommunicating at its lower end with ahead 25, confronting the end of ICOis depended upon to supply heat, and it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the conduit 24 might be entirely omitted and thesteam-jet 26 employed alone to supply the heated gaseous material in the'form of steam alone With some ofthe advantages attendant upon the useof my invention.

In Fig. 5, 29 indicates a furnace or other air-heater o1? suitableconstruction connected by an air-conduit 2 1 With a head 25 arranged insuitable proximity to the materialconduit 28" to supply heated airderived from the furnace to said material-conduit with the abrasivematerial drawn tlierethrough by the action of the injector 19.

Throughout these views parts common to all are indicated by the samenumerals as in Fi 1.

While I have shown various arrangements of heating apparatus and sourcesof heat-supply as falling Within the spirit and scope of my invention, Ido not desire to be understood as intimating that these are the onlyarrangements whichmight be advantagee ously employed, and I desire it tobe understood that 1 consider any form or arrangement of heatingapparatus which will produce the effect of heating to a high degree thematerial supplied to the vacuum-chamber of the injector as being suitedto the practice of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is t 1. Improvements in the art of abrading by theprojection of moistabrasive material by a steam-injector, which consistin heating the moist abrasive material to a high degree and supplyingthe same to the injector in a highly-heated condition.

2. In the art of abrading by the projection of moist abrasive materialbya steam-injector, the step of supplying moist abrasive material andhighly-heated gaseous matter to the vacuum-chamber of the ejector.

3. In the art of abrading by the projection of moist abrasive materialby a steam-injector, the steps of highly-heating air, and supplying thehighly-heated air to the injector with the moist abrasive material.

4. In the art of abrading by the projection of moist abrasive materialby a steamdnjector, the improvement which consists in highly heatingair, supplying the same to the abrasive material before it reaches theinjector to heat said abrasive material, and supplying said mixture ofhighly-heated air and abrasive material to the injector While in aheated condition.

5. In the art of abrading by the projection of abrasive material and airby a steam-injector, the step of heating the air before it reaches theinjector.

6. A process of sharpening files which consists in subjecting the iilesto a blast of abrasive material, steam and heated air.

.7. In the art of abrading by the projection of abrasive material, thestep of supplying a moist mixture of carborundum and quartz to theinjector with a volume of highly-heated gaseous matter.

8. In the art of sharpening files by the projection of moist abrasivematerial against them by a steam-injector, the step of supplying amixture of the moist abrasive material and gaseous matter to thevacuum-chamber of the injector at a temperature above the pointof'condensation of theinjectonsteam.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY H.

In presence of---- GEO. T. MAY, Jr., MARY F. ALLEN.

